Short-title catalogue
A short-title catalogue is a bibliographical resource that lists printed items in an abbreviated fashion, recording the most important words of their titles. The term is commonly encountered in the context of early [modern period|early modern] books, which frequently have lengthy, descriptive titles on their title pages. Many short-title catalogues are union catalogues, listing items in the custody of multiple libraries.
Online short-title catalogues in fact tend to record complete title transcriptions.
Examples
STC: A. W. Pollard and Gilbert [Richard Redgrave|G. R. Redgrave], editors: A Short-Title Catalogue of Books Printed in England, Scotland and Ireland, and of English Books Printed Abroad 1475–1640. Second edition, revised and enlarged, begun by W. A. Jackson and F. S. Ferguson, completed by K. F. Pantzer. London: The Bibliographical Society. Vol. I. 1986. Pp. 620. Vol. II. 1976. Pp. 504. Vol. III. 1991. Pp. 430. Wing: Short-Title Catalogue of Books Printed in England, Scotland, Ireland, Wales, and British America, and of English Books Printed in Other Countries, 1641–1700 by Donald Goddard WingESTC: English [Short Title Catalogue], covering 1473–1800 NSTC:, of English books 1801–1919ISTC: Incunabula Short Title Catalogue, of incunabula, i.e. books printed up to 1500STCN: Short Title Catalogue Netherlands, covering the Netherlands, 1540–1800STCV: Short Title Catalogus Vlaanderen, of books printed in Flanders prior to 1801BM STC: Short-title catalogues of the British Museum, covering various countries and centuriesUSTC: Universal Short Title Catalogue, of all books printed in Europe up to 1650Bod-inc.: ''A Catalogue of Books Printed in the [Fifteenth Century now in the Bodleian Library]''